FREE VERSE 2018 Free Verse Staff with Great Appreciation Editor-In-Chief NYC Department of Probation Poet-In-Residence Ana M

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FREE VERSE 2018 Free Verse Staff With Great Appreciation Editor-in-Chief NYC Department of Probation Poet-in-Residence Ana M. Bermudez, Commissioner Dave Johnson With Deep Respect Managing Editor NYC Department of Probation Michael Forte, Deputy Commissioner Lonni Tanner Chief, Civic Innovation Praise NYC Department of Probation Brooklyn Opportunities Café, Brownsville NeOn Team, East New York NeOn Lead Writing Apprentices Team, Queens NeOn Team, South Bronx NeOn Team, Staten Island NeOn Team Napoleon Felipe Sherese Francis Hats Off George Warwick Tyiece Barclay, Lee Briccetti, Cheryl Brown, Laura Caparrotti, Yahira Castillo, Writing Apprentices Tiesha Cobb, Ayanna Cole, June Cooley, Marlita Dalton, Brenda Davis, Alan Dorvil, Sandra Estrada, Laura Fantini, Sharun Goodwin, Ann Gregg, Rhonda Rowana Abbensetts Hughes, Elizabeth Keifer, Paul Leufroy, Jeannine Iorio, Zelzah Martin, Catrina Garrie Edwards Prileau, Donald Raysor, Esteban Rivera, Angel Ruiz, Cindy Ruiz, Michelle Michael Gomez Rugel, Tim Salyer, Antoine Sherman, Jasmine Sims, Arlene Smith, Rodney Denzel Jones Smith, Amy Swauger, Yulia Tikhonova, Jade Triton, Aline Vartanian Bruce Kirkland Tiffany Martin Kindness Omar Ovalle Janet G. Robinson Kairos Italy Theatre, Poets House, Teachers & Writers, St. John’s University, Franze Williams St. John’s University Art Gallery, St. John’s University Italian Studies, Visions Taqiy Witter Senior Center

Design Gratitude Delcan & Company NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Design Consultant Applause Carin Goldberg Funding for NeON Arts is provided by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Illustrations The Pinkerton Foundation, through grants to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance Delcan & Company (Cover, New York City. Public support is provided by Council Member Rafael pp. 8, 14, 29, 33, 48, 80) Salamanca and the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity. Edel Rodriquez (pp. 1, 54) Annie Jen (p. 19) Cristiana Couceiro (pp. 26, 66) Alvaro Dominguez (p. 40) Javier Jaen (p. 59) Adam Maida (pp. 72, 85) RF.COM 123 ©

©2018 The City of New York. Join Us! All rights reserved. For more information about Free Verse writing workshops, Printer: Linco Printing public readings, and programmatic materials, write to: [email protected]. COVER PHOTOGRAPH: ANASTASIA KAZAKOVA KAZAKOVA ANASTASIA PHOTOGRAPH: COVER Turbulent times are impossible to ignore. So are the voices of P2 Broken America Sherese Francis P3 My pen isn’t a poem. Margaret Gayle I’d rather be in the circus Tiffany Barnes probation clients, their families, friends, neighbors, and the probation February: Black History Cheryl Brown What if? Tyrone Johnson P4 I was thinking how ungrateful I am./ First thought in the morning: Ana Carmela Ramirez Contramaestre P5 Justice, Anonymous Mentiras Verdade/True Lies Ramón staff, all who recognize the world is in need of repair. Herrera/D.J. P6 Cold World Stephan Carnegie P7 Those Dionne Dey P9 Questions my ﬁve-year-old daughter asked

Born from this need and the need to be heard, Free Verse is a me: S.A.R. I only feel Hispanic Napoleon Felipe P10 Light Show Kira Diaz Today Xiomara Gutierrez P11 integration place to speak your peace. More than 2,200 submissions poured in this Yasmine Lancaster P12 100 voices, 100 stories. Holli Johnson HVAC Jeremy M. My Mother Rachel Berger P13 all year – double from last year. Rooted in five probation center waiting the black girls have brown eyes Yasmine Lancaster P15 Why Tone Die Isaiah Ellis P16 Staten Island Janet G. Robinson BLACK Yasmine Lancaster P17 The Drug War Dialogues Willie Perdomo P18 Black Women are Best Loved as Martyrs rooms, graduates of our writing program – now paid client apprentices Nicole Goodwin P20 rehearsal Yasmine Lancaster P21 Pretty Gang Taqiy Witter Long Nights, Short Days Tii Tii Fayson at each center – serve as lead instructors, gathering the voices of Such sorrow Chardae Salters P22 Clues Lamall Kinsey P23 Can I ask Tiny P24 Never Love Again Luvaah P25 Laugh at my new poets and encouraging them to speak out at open mic Thursdays, Poem Bruce Kirkland P27 Gotta watch Mos 2nd Chance Omar Doolittle I’m tired, tired, tired./Damn, damn, damn. Studda’Love (Kenneth) Love Ernesto Valentine one thing. Michelle Gayle P28 Two summers back Darlene Mercedes contribute to the giant 10-word story wall, or write a piece for Moving Only P.I. A Battered Woman Jeanette Peterson Rain Alan Dorvil P30 Unexpected Omar Ovalle P31 Stuck Aaron Ramos Stories that will travel the city. Stuck in a Cage Andrew Rose Life is too short to drown Stephan Carnegie P32 Far From Scholanda Miller P34 Scene of In these pages, the poets share hard reality and the determination the Crime Nicole Goodwin P35 Dear Kali Hope, Keisha Hayden P36 Anguish Ryan Holmes The Right Way José Espinal to keep life moving forward – despite the odds. At Free Verse, we believe P37 Roses Oliver Ireland Mixed Emotions MGTheRapper P38 Why try/When you have money Devon Warren Why am I/ Why is Rodney Huff Why am I Rickababy P39 Sintomas Del Amor/Symptoms of Love Ramón Herrera/D.M. P41 Pizza the only thing that separates any of us in this world is opportunity. Steven Cruz You are! G.W. P42 Pineapple Sadie Felder P43 Free Verse Pencils Omar Ovalle P44 Is my hair ok? Ty Beckett Read these works. Share them with others. It’s a start. The Four-Leaf Circus Napoleon Felipe Countdown MGTheRapper P45 Regina G.W. P46 Race Yasmine Lancaster To Women of Generations Before Me HaloTheArtist P47 Amor de Hijo/Love’s Son Ramón Herrera/D.J. P49 Distance

Darianny Serrano P50 Giving Brenda Davis P51 Growth Tyiece Barclay P52 The Art of Spilling Coffee Sherese Francis

— The Editors P53 Problem Rowana Abbensetts P55 Our love Donna Oxley P56 Twists & Turns Paul Leufroy Everything Became

DAVE JOHNSON Broken I am surrounded Anthony Fauntleroy P57 Trenches Espero Voltare P58 O Rowana Abbensetts Back at Home

Editor-In-Chief Justin Kirlew We are Rachel Berger P60 Ritual Nicole Goodwin P61 Take Care: From A to Z La La Akbar P63 When L.

Reid Even our kisses L.K.M./Wolf Poet P64 Mess Rowana Abbensetts When it’s dark out Lathan Rogers Sometimes LONNI TANNER Managing Editor I feel C. McDuffy My pride and joy Renee Wilkinson P65 600 Thread Count Scholanda Miller P67 The Same Dance Zahura Akter P68 Cooking Up the Buried Sherese Francis P69 Blocks Rowana Abbensetts I’m so busy Santia Taylor

The ﬁrst time Jasmine Faulkner I just want to say, Levoy Dupree My Sex Tahara Lilly P70 Public Radio Announcement

Rowana Abbensetts P71 Monday Moises Martinez P73 Blessings in Disguise/ Benedizione travestita Franze Williams/

WHAT MAKES ME PROUD? ANA M. BERMUDEZ Kairos Italy Theatre You’ve been there/ Sei stato già qui, Franze Williams/Kairos Italy Theatre P74 Line of Life Mitchel

Our staff embracing this vital poetry program. Commissioner Cruz We Got You Bruce Kirkland Freezing Cold/Freddo Polare GW/Kairos Italy Theatre P75 “They” Learnz P76 Guilty People on probation coming to write on days they NYC Department of Probation as Charged Devonte Rhodes My feet were so light S.A.R. P77 Shoot! G’dae Dream March Janet G. Robinson P78 March don’t even have to report. The community partici- pating in our free writing workshops and events. Twenty Two: The Woman I Once Knew L. Reid P79 Two Mouths Speaking Obscenities Napoleon Felipe P81 The Life Listening to our poets perform. Publishing the ﬁrst and Death of Raymond Stein Brenda Davis Why must I carry the burden Denzel Jones P82 Apollo Tiffany Martin P83 book written by a Free Verser. Our poets traveling Music is in my DNA. Verona Waite My Trombone is a work of art. Maquesha Gillett Past Dreams Lynn Cheung P84 the city – and the world – to share their work. Where are you from? Zina Devine What I Know Denzel Jones P86 Change, Franze Williams Writing program graduates earning paid positions as apprentices. Poets getting jobs as working artists at New York City non-proﬁts. This magazine.

Bravo to everyone involved in Free Verse! Broken America

I wish I knew how to heal The growing rifts Or even if they are healable. I try and it feels as if I’m meddling In something I shouldn’t. I’m still ﬁguring it out, Hands through the dark. I’ve been told to be quiet

1 When I want to scream 2 About the wounds Of a country more worried about Upgrades for the latest IPhone or app. Where are the repairs To refurbish broken souls; Not looking for Medals, not looking for Awards, just looking for Reasons to keep being here.

SHERESE FRANCIS RE VERSE FREE My pen isn’t a poem. I was thinking how ungrateful I am.

MARGARET GAYLE It manifests itself gravely in absurd situations that life in New York proposes. Ah! I miss the drums of my land, I’d rather be in the circus February: Black History the heat of the savanna. I feel hopeless, taken away from everything that it means to live. And the cold. Why is February the shortest month of the year? than be like this. So elusive. Their tricks come in handy, My past legacy, which I revere, with my brothermen just to get February. I want it to be extinguished. melts you like cotton candy. Like my despair. At least they’re being themselves And it’s the shortest month of the year. Rescued from this hole. and not forced to be someone else. As cops look at me and peer, The way they turn a frown upside down, making me want to hide and disappear. ANA CARMELA RAMIREZ CONTRAMAESTRE they deserve a crown. Where can I go to tackle this frontier? 3 I’d rather be in a circus than be like this. It goes back in time 4 to those years that my fear blended First thought in the morning: TIFFANY BARNES into my heritage of being a different nationality, looking in the mirror and having no reality. February is when I come alive. How much money am I capable of earning today? For 28 days I see myself in everyone’s eyes. And the day after. Imagine this:

CHERYL BROWN ﬁngers caressing grubby paper, disgusting, huh? What if? Snifﬁng for a fragrance hundreds of miles away from me. What if I decide to do this? Sweat. What if I decide not to do that? Ink. What if I love this woman? Skin. What if I look in her eyes and she doesn’t look back? What if I decide to tell her how I feel? I patiently hold up my body, What if by then she’s long gone, hair blowing in the wind, with her shades on? a narcotic resolution. What if I blow it just by being me? Sometimes I ask myself, What if I just put it in a poem? Where is your smile? RE VERSE FREE

TYRONE JOHNSON ANA CARMELA RAMIREZ CONTRAMAESTRE Justice,

I’m tired Cold World of being an anonymous where jackets don’t target. help a bit, where people would rather struggle than drown in a pool of regret, where ANONYMOUS the word happy is a different ﬁve letters 5 (m-o-n-e-y), 6 Mentiras Verdadera where the word hot La mentira, la mentira necesaria? Solo cuando la verdad doesn’t refer to the weather, es muy difîcil de creer. where people would rather practice doing worse than getting better. RAMÓN HERRERA It’s a cold world, but some may beg to differ. True Lies

The lie, the necessary lie? STEPHAN CARNEGIE Only when the truth is too difﬁcult to believe. RE VERSE FREE

D.J. – ENGLISH TRANSLATION Those

who died yesterday

had plans

for this morning.

7 8 And those who died this morning

had plans

for tonight.

DIONNE DEY RE VERSE FREE Questions my five-year-old daughter asked me:

Why was I born?

Where is the sky blue? Light Show (song lyrics)

Who do people go to when they die? They don’t want to see me------at the light show. Every time I see you------I’m on go mode. Crazy------you’ll be on me like a------psy cho. What is life? If I ever see you, it’s so------psych------i-i-i-i------cho! You always give me bad advice, o, o! And trippin on me------that’s a no-no. What is love? See me in the streets------respect my vibes, bo. I say, 9 10 Why do people hate? Yea, they don’t want to see me at the light show. Every time I see you------I’m on-----go mode.

It’s so psych i-i-i-i- cho. It’s so psych------i-i-i-i-----cho! S.A.R. KIARA DIAZ

I only feel Hispanic when you tell me how loud I am around my family. You assume Today we’re arguing. My accent gets activated when my mother talks to me. My words suddenly no longer make sense to an ear that isn’t well-versed in Spanish. Now I understand the meaning of culture shock when you ask me, What are you? Like it’s the ﬁrst time you’ve seen this creature, an

alien that just appeared from an unidentiﬁed boat. I simply reply with a smile, I’m human, letting I live in hurt. you know I wasn’t offended by your question or curiosity. You seem to enjoy the food I make. And you say my music makes your hips sway. And you begin to lose control, almost possessed by the Promise me rhythmic hymns of guitar strings. You should see the look on your face. You giggle as I twirl you around! You transform into this beautiful Goddess Unique. With no equal! I love the way you tomorrow I will heal. look at me like, who I am matters, in a world where being Hispanic is always second to Gringo. XIOMARA GUTIERREZ RE VERSE FREE

NAPOLEON FELIPE 100 voices, 100 stories.

Dislike me? You don’t know me. I may laugh, integration but I’m never joking. I don’t write poems. you know, my suitemate said HOLLI JOHNSON

what, I replied HVAC

I can’t wait for summer. I’m going to train 11 you know any black girls for a job in heating 12 and air conditioning. Summer is when my life changes we could hook up with, for the better, but not real black, conditioning with new air. Barbie black? JEREMY M. like black on the outside only?

YASMINE LANCASTER My Mother

My mother spit in my face. My mother was busy ﬁghting with my dad. My mother said men would only want me for sex because you are fat. But she has selective memory and doesn’t remember any of that.

RACHEL BERGER RE VERSE FREE all the black girls have brown eyes

She kept pouring her maple syrup till the blueberry pancake pushed off the circumstance of her plate and moved towards the center ﬂoating secure in the thickness of sugar.

We were growing thick and so were they

13 children we were 14 surrounded by maple trees.

Where I am from Aunt Jemima had a headscarf and cost 3.49 a bottle we did not pour until our cup runneth over.

Late one night I stumbled in and watched fascinated as the others showed the boys how to wine- and wine- while their backsides moved against their pelvis’ careful not to let the sap spill.

YASMINE LANCASTER RE VERSE FREE PHOTOGRAPH: ISTOCK.COM/ ALEXEY_DS ISTOCK.COM/ PHOTOGRAPH: Why Tone Die Staten Island

In the early 70s, I moved to Staten Island from Queens Village. I knew nothing about Staten Why Tone die and not come back Island. A friend helped me get an apartment in Fox Hills at 350 Vanderbilt Avenue, Apartment 4B. Me and my three children lived there. They went to the local private school and I got in- Why Tone die when I told him to chill not lack volved. I also began babysitting local children, taking them on trips (on the Ferry) off the Island, teaching them their history. As Staten Islanders, we had to go to Harlem for our history. I taught the children what they should know before they even went to school. Living on Staten Island Why Ty left home with that scrap has been an ongoing trip. I am still traveling! Ty should’ve left home with his backpack JANET G. ROBINSON Note: Janet G. Robinson is a well-known proponent of civil rights and equality for the underprivileged on Staten Island. She volunteers to watch children for parents while they navigate the judicial Why Tay had a ﬁght with her baby-father system. She also introduced Kwanzaa to Staten Island and holds fundraisers to support Kwanzaa Why Tay baby-father shot his own daughter celebrations for children. Her energy and insight are legendary. 15 16

Why Tim had to take that last hit He should’ve got to the program and quit

But hold up I’m not ﬁnished Let’s stay on topic Boldly Loving A Celestial Kin Keep it straight business l I don’t care who did this l This could go on forever God, can I get a witness YASMINE LANCASTER

RE VERSE FREE ISAIAH ELLIS The Drug War Dialogues Black Women are Best Loved as Martyrs So, before we start, can we just talk about your never-ending status? “This shit is not a coincidence.” Let me say, right now, that I can’t stop, won’t stop. I’m in the trillions, and I’m still on the come up. -Justin Woo What took you so long? Your number was called last week. Late then, later now. Well, why are we here? I Tell us, what’s going on up there? In the real world there are Black women’s You mean down there. bodies. some dead, some dead. Yeah, right here. Some dead by force! False claims, fake news, old blues, blood & feathers, gold & water, bad weather, black bodies, all their fates resemble mines. In silence, brown detentions, low retentions, you know, same ole, same ole. the deep black American quiet, we hold Well, shit, let’s celebrate. these truths as evident. But we’re free now. We Black women (of the Ya’ll were free then. Ghetto) are taught these 17 18 Well that part is over. But maybe it’s better this way, struggling to live, learning to love. realities quickly. Nah, that’s a game for the played, my brother. How long you bean clean? This can’t be the end. Where all my people? II Don’t waste my morning, man. Is it a sin for me to throw in the towel

Why all those guns all up in my face like that? early? Is it a sin for me to throw in the

Well, how many ways did you choose to be alive? Unplugged, less a signal, the virtuous time is here. towel early? Is it a sin for me to throw in Revolution, say amen. Every ﬁght should request a repeat. When you only have one direction, you the towel early? To choose suicide—by need to be saying the same thing. You ask, you answer. That’s the way it is down here. my own black hands, You mean up here. Or You think I’m joking right now. become the latest hashtag… I’m saying, though, why you smiling. And here we were, right in the middle of building a pill free of time, a day to sleep for not one, but III two breakthroughs; opening those narrative windows, belly singing into the ambrosial hour. Who are all these women wearing white and smoking cigars? Why are they looking at the sun, why are God, how I hate this society… they looking at me? America, you are why Jesus All is fair in love and drug wars. You ain’t the only one taking pictures. wept.

RE VERSE FREE WILLIE PERDOMO NICOLE GOODWIN rehearsal

he dropped his candy cigarettes we were pretending to be Bad smoking cigarettes on Columbus Avenue 4 white boys and me children until we crossed the street and 3 Black boys stopped us angrily and asked for our cigarettes

and when I say asked, I mean they pushed 19 20 their hands against, my friend’s chest, use your words not your ﬁsts but right before they punched Fred

he dropped the chalky fruit cigarettes onto the concrete, one of them looked at me and this time, using his words and not his ﬁsts, you-are Black like us, so I am not going to hit you and I thought it was because I was the only girl among them

YASMINE LANCASTER RE VERSE FREE Pretty Gang Clues

War paint on her face Plastic smile gets food on her plate IloveyoureyesyourvibestooBelievedyour- Her heartbeat real, her love fake She doesn’t know how to give thanks liesweretooblindtoseethetruthYoubroke- mysmallheartIfeltlikeIsawthebluesbut- She’s part of the Pretty Gang She’s mean for money because money means so, so, so much stillgotloveforyouhopeyouseetheclues. She never knew She too could feel sad-blue IloveyoureyesyourvibestooBelievedyour-

She’s part of the Pretty Gang liesweretooblindtoseethetruthYoubroke- Doing her thing mysmallheartIfeltlikeIsawthebluesbutstill- For whips and chains In school, teachers tell her, slavery’s over. gotloveforyouhopeyouseetheclues.Ilov-

TAQIY WITTER eyoureyesyourvibestooBelievedyourlieswer- 21 22 etooblindtoseethetruthYoubrokemysmall- Long Nights, Short Days heartIfeltlikeIsawthebluesbutstillgotlovefo- ryouhopeyouseetheclues.Iloveyoureyesyour- Dry throat, empty stomach, broken hearts, broken locks vibestooBelievedyourliesweretooblindto- and where is my happiness? seethetruthYoubrokemysmallheartIfeltlikeI- TII TII FAYSON sawthebluesbutstillgotloveforyouhopeyou- seetheclues.IloveyoureyesyourvibestooBe- Such sorrow lievedyourliesweretooblindtoseethetruthY- bestowed on me oubrokemysmallheartIfeltlikeIsawtheblues- prevents me from loving or living, my sanity slipping, butstillgotloveforyouhopeyouseetheclue. despair corrupting, rage is all I believe in.

RE VERSE FREE LAMALL KINSEY CHARDAE SALTERS Never Love Again

I prolly never love again Never love again Unless it’s less rahshea or sin Here we go again Still see we wit the beats goin in Can’t no longer hold it in They say just let it out but I keep it all in And see thru gangstas tryna keep all friends I don’t keep no more friends Prolly never love again Way back in the days Never love again Born in Harlem Unless it’s rahshea or sin Mommy had a problem Can I ask I’m so Brooklyn wit the pen Daddy was a ghost I’m so Bed-Stuy So you know the crib was haunted Lemme take you where I been Gangstas I can’t call it 23 who created this world? All the way thru hell 5 brothers, couple cousins my mother, 24 But lemme take it back Grandmother, a couple others, 3 bedrooms too Cluttered TINY My moms was smokin’ crack That’s why I be spittin that Gotta ﬁnd a way to vacate out that house She would beat us like Ye I’m from where only one’ll make it out, 1 sister I let it ﬂow like Jay We don’t kick it she be trippin, standin’ still When I turn 5 she died I said yeh Swallowed my pride and I realized that I can’t Wish I could take it back Stand her still I prolly never love again Never love again Unless it’s less rahshea or sin Here we go again Still see we wit the beats goin in Can’t no longer hold it in They say just let it out, but I keep it all in And see thru gangstas tryna keep all friends I don’t keep no more friends Prolly never love again Never love again Unless it’s rahshea or sin RE VERSE FREE

LUVAAH Laugh at my Poem

When I was growing up we were poor. Sometimes we went to bed with no dinner. I used to have wild dreams. I would talk in my sleep. Once my mother said, Wake up! What wuz you dreaming about? And I said, I was dreaming that I was eating steak and mashed potatoes. My mother smacked me, You selﬁsh bastard. You couldn’t share that dream with your brother?

I remember we had no clothes and my sister and brother wore Twister game mats, shower curtains, and tablecloths to school. We used dish detergent as bubble bath. 26 If it rained we would put buckets in the living room to catch the raindrops. I remember my parents getting lucky and I would bust in the door and see them. My mother would yell, Close the door, Bruce.

I remember my grandmother told me she killed her dog because it rolled its eyes at her. I remember my mother told me You’re retarded, but I grew out of it. I used to take the little yellow bus. That was embarrassing stuff. We had to sit on little chairs, no desk, round tables. I was in a class with a boy who wore a football helmet. Other kids used to tease me, too. Sincerely, I say, just laugh at my poem.

BRUCE KIRKLAND Gotta watch 2nd Chance Two summers back Only

who’s around you. Fresh home from jail in Brooklyn, I moved sober people They could be trying to level you down, rebirth from hell, on Schenck, instead of another chance to build. and found out get to eat. leveling Please, I was pregnant. you up. more food, I had the baby. P.I. I need another meal! She’s beautiful. MOS Hell yes, she’s beautiful! OMAR DOOLITTLE Being a mother is inexplicable.

DARLENE MERCEDES

I’m tired, tired, tired. Love A Battered Woman 27 Damn, damn, damn. 28 It’s easy to fall in, The pain eats up my mind, but hard to get out. crimps my body and I bleed. How we gonna ﬁx this? And there’s in-between How can hurt, hurt so much? I need to go away days bright as the sun for a couple of months and nights go cold JEANETTE PETERSON to get my head straight. as a December midnight. I might ﬁnd myself a better person again. ERNESTO VALENTINE You can blame it on the crack or drink, and stuff like that. I gotta, I’m gonna Rain get back on the right track. one thing.

STUDDA’LOVE (KENNETH) The rain makes me sluggish. I want to stay in bed. But that’s in my head. I was a Marine and they your love means everything. taught me the rain was an advantage. As a college football player I can remember some of my best games were played in the rain. I made tackle after tackle. The rain made it hard for the running back to run the you’re tough, ball. You know, poor traction. But the rain feels good, the water splashing on my face in the cool wind. but I’m dying. And we need rain for the plants and trees and drinking water. I look forward to the rain. RE VERSE FREE

MICHELLE GAYLE ALAN DORVIL Unexpected

I had every single excuse to be angry, depressed and f%#!! mad with the world.

But when I think about you, I get the feeling of happiness.

I don’t know anything about you.

What a beautiful gift, your presence and energy shows me that this is not the end.

30 I like the feeling of silliness I get when l see you, when I’m close to you.

Quietly, I made the decision to isolate myself completely from the world.

But I’ve found a very profound sense of joy after meeting you.

The unexpected gave me a reason not to give up. And it’s getting even better.

OMAR OVALLE Stuck Far From

sitting in probation Far from perfect lacking motivation But perfectly imperfect wanna do more Far from mean but I’m hesitant But boldly blunt it’s hard not to be Far from your average everyday a pessimist But deﬁnitely been around the block stuck in my ways Stuck In A Cage Far from the standout bitch but tryna better it But uniquely designed no way to get out AARON RAMOS Stuck in a cage Far from your wish upon a star all alone, no spouse But deﬁnitely your dream come true 31 Stuck in a cage 32 for the cheese like a mouse Far from your ivy league status Stuck in a cage But educated with honors for not following the rules in the Lord’s house Far from washed up But experienced beyond measure ANDREW ROSE My shortcomings are my up rises My downfalls have become my stepping-stones My heartaches have transpired into turning points Your nonsense has become my laxatives Life is too short to drown As I refrain, release and rebuild This life here, not done, #Farfrom... swim in passion SCHOLANDA MILLER be grateful for the wave. RE VERSE FREE STEPHAN CARNEGIE Scene of the Crime

I Today they almost draggggggeeedd me to jail! Me Said I was a nuisance, me Said I was irate; me Said I was irrational—me Me My bared Black breasts & skin, too much made in America. Public enemy #1… Unruly cops come in packs of pairs.

34 II He would have Snatched the Black off my head, Had the universe let him. Black body on the frontline… I am told that white pity is safer for Black skin Than sunscreen.

III “We were all prayed up before we got here!” My companions said. URRELL Somewhere God was lookin’ listenin’ CHAEL B And with a merciful wink Came salvation.

NICOLE GOODWIN PHOTOGRAPH: ISTOCK.COM/ MI ISTOCK.COM/ PHOTOGRAPH: Dear Kali Hope, Anguish

Is it worth it When you were born or should I just end it via knife? I was so excited. I told Drugs, depression, disassociation is how my misery is spent in this endless pit. everybody, She’s here. Not sure if I have an answer to this constant version And Down syndrome of the same event. No magic bullet, doesn’t change the fact but there’s always hope. Just hope you’re not caught 35 that you’re sooooooo waiting to get hit 36 beautiful. I will never by a magic asteroid. turn my back on RYAN HOLMES

you. I will never be The Right Way ashamed to walk the We’re all in trouble streets with you. I will living in their bubble. It’s a catastrophe love you forever, my living in their fantasy. How do they come up with policy? grandbaby, Kali Hope. It’s all a fallacy.

KEISHA HAYDEN JOSÉ ESPINAL RE VERSE FREE Roses Why try to make it when your supporters try to bring you are red down?

violets are blue DEVON WARREN I want to get the hell When you have money why do haters come around? outta here! DEVON WARREN OLIVER IRELAND

37 Why am I on the beach, but I see no ocean? 38 Mixed Emotions RODNEY HUFF it’s like my brain is

on shufﬂe, Why is the sun black? I stay in my dufﬂe RODNEY HUFF bag, once my mind is straight everybody’s in trouble, Why am I if you talked me behind my back, and just know not I still love you. you? RE VERSE FREE

MGTHERAPPER RICKABABY D.M. – ENGLISH TRANSLATION D.M. – ENGLISH Symptoms of Love Symptoms of Love in the moment, is beautiful Love, to the sky, and it takes you get stupid, but you go blind, you go deaf, you if in truth, love. you El amor, en momento, es bello amor, El y te sube al cielo, tonto, vuelve pero y ciego, sordo, tu ama. si en verdad RAMÓN HERRERA Sintomas Del Amor Amor Sintomas Del

FREE VERSE 39 Delicious and cheesy, Fresh baked trust, Close your eyes & take a bite! In Pizza we must. Tough on the outside STEVEN CRUZ sweet on the in- standing tall You are! and proud,

a coffee bean with a weave. Your fine brown complexion magnifies crown in the clouds, your infectious smile and diabolical 41 attitude like strong espresso. yellow 42 Your lankiness, hypnotic eyes and G style make you bewitching, as the sun’s skin enigmatic as a capuchin secret! You are self-consciously skeptical, at odds with reality, with a misbelief when I eat you of certain truths. You are so old school, yet you cut a fresh foam figure I think to myself, like a caramel latte. It’s nice to know there are still things you haven’t seen while waiting for your wafting aroma. Pineapple, I can tell you my secrets. I trust you. Like a coffee bean, you convert water you prickle like a pin. to a hot shot of dark caffeine.

G.W. SADIE FELDER RE VERSE FREE Is my hair ok?

Why am I addicted to a life of lust, money, and drugs? Is there a life for the wicked?

TY BECKETT

The Four-Leaf Circus Countdown 43 44

Life is a clown car. 10 families School is a circus. 9 personalities Work is a circus. 8 rivalries Debt is the ringleader. 7 deaths a week Balancing acts. 6 by gun Sidewalk cracks. 5 by assault Look at these clowns. 4 children dead Sad, happy, slappy clowns. 3 from one family Circus Hound. 2 parents ﬁght They found him at the pound. 1 stands victorious His tummy round. Crying on the inside. MGTHERAPPER Laughing on the outside. He never made a sound. Circus Frown.

OMAR OVALLE NAPOLEON FELIPE RE VERSE FREE Regina Ravishing Diamonds in both ears, A ring in her nose, All Tattoos on her neck, A smile that kills, Consuming Eyes that glow, A Queen with her own demeanor, Effort

YASMINE LANCASTER Red Bull’s to make her go, Sharp as a knife, boldly Facing all strife, her hair Has a mind of its own.

A Queen with her own realm Needing no subjects, To Women of Generations Before Me 45 46 As she proudly strides by As her admirers genuflect. Expect my apology Her beauty is evident From me and men around the world In the way she is present. Who have been programmed to believe And Queenly by name as She holds court and smiles. There’s a divide between us as genders I know the way you feel can’t be easily forgotten, Attitude in abundance, But nowadays there are so many distractions Strangely attractive Dark brunette tresses are Forgetting becomes simpler Like a crown on her head. To independent women of today, let your voices ring with Confidence Unforgettable once you see her, Relish in her presence, of a Queen Now that we’re listening In her magnificence. Teach the next generation of young men how to

G.W. Co-exist with the co-creators of their existence. RE VERSE FREE

HALOTHEARTIST Amor de Hijo

Madrecita linda aún recuerdo tu Cariño y cuando me proteja Mientras yo me divertía con Papalote de colores, trompos Y Pepsi-Cola.

Madrecita linda y si tu muere Primero le diré al sepulturero Que haga fosa para dos.

RAMÓN HERRERA 47 48

Love’s Son

Beautiful mommy, I still remember Your love and when you protected me, Amused me with colorful kites, spinning tops, And Pepsi-Cola.

Beautiful mommy, if you die ﬁrst I will tell the gravedigger To make a pit for two.

D.J. – ENGLISH TRANSLATION RE VERSE FREE PHOTOGRAPH: ISTOCK.COM/ OLESIABILKEI ISTOCK.COM/ PHOTOGRAPH: Distance Giving

I know that you don’t understand is good for your soul. how this distance could be part of my plan. There is nothing like helping someone. I can feel you it’s worth it. reaching. See, I almost Seeing gratitude I can’t reach can give you your hands. the life you in someone’s face or But I’m not raising deserve and a boy, the life that hearing it you see, I’m raising a man we fought for, in their voice is priceless. and yeah, it you know, hurts me to see the one that we 49 The best way to give 50 the pain in your eyes. earned and When you’re looking so I won’t is to do it and not expect at me give up or when you’re trapped this ﬁght. anything in your closet I won’t crying quit till it’s back. when you call me done. and I’m working so mommy can’t I will work throughout It’s the absolute best feeling speak. the night. So yeah, the I will give you you could ever experience. plan wasn’t perfect, everything I promised. but I’m seeing it I won’t listen to fright BRENDA DAVIS through and I know I won’t fail cause I know that because you are my light.

DARIANNY SERRANO RE VERSE FREE The Art of Spilling Coffee

Our reflex is to jump the moment we see it spill, Growth 2 dollars, 50 cents of coffee rushing down the seat; what a waste. The nurse next to me shows me the burn Defeat comes in many forms on her finger. She laughs it off; I’ve got good reflexes, & she tells me, but some spilled on my uniform; my only one. trials & tribulations The train stops; the announcer She tells me that back home apologizes for the train ahead, people don’t commit suicide like they do here. I tell her 51 take us down a path its emergency brake is on. 52 The nurse assumes someone people get lonely. I just want that require action. must have jumped, that must be it; my day to go smooth, she replies, she works with them, patients on showing me pics of her daughter’s suicide watch, she knows first day of school, the staff welcoming one who jumped. students; this helps her fight Maintain. You will find His face had to be the goosebumps growing on her skin. stitched back on, ear to ear. He wanted I think of visions of the unimaginable, to see the video after. of watching parts of yourself hanging; your road. I think of thoughts unimaginable, of no longer existing. They feel it is an easy way out, she says. I tell myself people get lonely. I smile TYIECE BARCLAY at her, hoping her day goes well and I hear my words jumping in my chest. I wonder if she did too.

SHERESE FRANCIS RE VERSE FREE ROWANA ABBENSETTS ABBENSETTS ROWANA Problem synonymous with death, is a dirty word, Gun bars, metallic, clinking, unyielding, synonymous with silenced. promise twitch of the hand, an irreversible sigh, a collective With the ancestors shrug. fear breathes Schools on shut down, under desks and in coat closets. They say he is ill and had no friends, at home, anti-social behavior and divorce a victim himself. white hands. gun purified by Black Change skins, change melanin. Tragedy. This gun does not belong to him, to his temple, turn the barrel of things. the natural order sigh, a collective With The ancestors shrug. her firstborn stolen. cries into her pillow, Mother and sour. brown pile up, Flowers grief in her voice. one can stomach the gravelly No one can find the balm to soothe her. No teacher has a gun. her nephew’s Now

FREE VERSE 53 Twists & Turns

You try to do right. Bridges may burn.

You go to college. You hope to learn.

Our love You ﬁnd a job. You hope to earn. Everything is you, our love Books contain knowledge. But what’s important? is me, our love is like a newborn I feel like everything I do is never good enough. baby. Is it how we apply it? No matter what accomplishments Our love is joy, our love is or downfalls I go through PAUL LEUFROY 55 pain. no one seems to care. 56 I’m always helping everyone. Our love feels like dancing Who is going to be my help? rain. Whose shoulder am I able to cry on? Nothing feels the same. When I’m hurt, who’s going So hold on to (y)our love to hold my hand?

because it was granted from above. BECAME BROKEN

DONNA OXLEY

I am surrounded by angels, so I know I am truly blessed. RE VERSE FREE

ANTHONY FAUNTLEROY Trenches O Back at Home

Call me O, I’m stuck on Earth We made it through the trenches Offshoot, They tried to lock me Handouts were never given Opening for They tried to stop me Oneness or I’m from the star-stream My mama telling me, Boy, just get up for school Ownership, I need a rocket But I ain’t ever listen Oranges or I gotta go Obsidian, They want me down Got my degree the hard way Oil of olives, I miss my home But you can say my minor was tripping Oceans from I found a road Origins. I found my goal Put the pieces to the puzzle, treating cities like rentals Our time They told me no I always was switch-y O’clock. They see me low O, love odes They see me slow Went to Cali had to get it Offered Next thing you know 57 Imagine slums on a beach Over and I’m back at home 58 Over until Now I’m gone Are you from the east or the west Observed. Choose your side then you rep with your chest JUSTIN KIRLEW Feds was looking 4 and O hittas get swept ROWANA ABBENSETTS Wrong place, wrong time, ain’t selling no dimes Young kid, he got a future Jakes crushing back blocks, didn’t See a thing, got done with looking and started choosing Then got the frame The youngin was chilling, he didn’t do it We are shadows of our thoughts, Caught a degree in the ﬁrst, felony, went Our emotions are our keepers. And changed his life into a movie.

ESPERO VOLTARE RACHEL BERGER RE VERSE FREE Ritual

Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice Practice practice 60 59 Practice practice Practice practice makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Makes habit Eventual

NICOLE GOODWIN RE VERSE FREE Take Care: From A to Z

Aspiring for health Never regret it’s simple Because if not a Or just wait for your body to be crippled Cancer will Possess only yourself Dissect you from beginning to Quiet down any waves End Resulting in your goals Forget wealth, money will never befriend you Safe to say you will get old 61 Give your spirit & mind to a friend Tomorrow is not promised I’ve been told 62 Have not waste not Under God & halt If you want to do so Vending dreams of living Just be free to be Way above your means Kinder to yourself X-out all mess Love life Yet bless this holy Make your body a temple Zone…the healthy scene.

LA LA AKBAR RE VERSE FREE Mess

When My favorite fruit is not easy to share. It is a matter of intimacy, Paring slices of mango you are hurting it makes you let go Peeled from tropical rainbow skin. of the things deep inside that you truly know Sweet stickiness slips When it’s dark out From my ﬁnger tips when you are hurting you want to break free As I taste the ﬁrst candy from the pain in your heart & scream, leave me Of a country girl. everything’s clear. When it’s dark out,

when you are hurting you’re ﬁlled with such doubt and those who ROWANA ABBENSETTS ain’t no one there. should know can’t ﬁgure you out But when it’s bright, all seems alright. when you are hurting you’d rather be alone than be in the presence That’s when friends give fake smiles. of others or talk on the phone Ladies give fake hugs. Sometimes I feel When it’s foggy, 63 when you are hurting you can’t think straight that’s when people tell the truth. 64

if you’re usually an on-time person I like when it’s dark out, on ﬁre now you’re showing up late because when it’s dark out, like my skin is stuck to the sun ain’t no one there, everything’s clear. like a little kid having fun when you are hurting life becomes a haze, turns into darkness and sometimes I feel lost a deep complex maze LATHAN ROGERS sometimes I feel like a Boss

sometimes I feel mugged when you are hurting your mind begins to dwell I feel loved on a time when things were simple I feel gone and all of your life was well I feel alive sometimes I feel strong My pride and joy L. REID sometimes I feel wrong.

are my 2 children. C. MCDUFFY One of my son’s, Anthony, is a sophomore at Susan Wagner High. And my oldest is autistic. He makes me happy Even our kisses are spoken word. because I see a change in him every day. RE VERSE FREE

L.K.M./WOLF POET RENEE WILKINSON 600 Thread Count

Basking in the comfort of my truth Covered in a quilt of his fraud Wrapped in a duvet of deceit Masked by curtains of hurt Shaded behind blinds, draped with guilt Laying in my 600 thread count reality of lies. Paired with shams of shame. We both did wrong, But only one got ﬁlthy!

65 Nevertheless, I’m still comforted by his comforter of inconsistency. 66 Clamped tightly by his tuck-in of DISRESPECT. Although, my heart is sometimes rhythmless like a ﬂat sheet... I still lay here in my 600 thread count reality of lies!!! As we make luv to beats of the hearts that yearn for others, We close our eyes and escape in this satin instant gratiﬁcation. Tender to touch, smooth as a baby’s bottom, Perplexed on this Tempur-Pedic California King. Still in rhythm, but out of harmony, so out of sync, like a king size pillow, With a medium case on it. Gasping to be released, as we lay here In this 600 thread count reality of lies.

SCHOLANDA MILLER RE VERSE FREE The Same Dance Cooking Up the Buried

Will call tomorrow. Some women hide their names Call you tomorrow. I will call you tomorrow. from the world, seal them off in cooking pots, grind them Tomorrow is today. with pestle and mortar until unrecognizable I call you today. until dust, mix them into gravy I leave a message. — call anytime, sweetened with burnt sugar. but not before tomorrow. Some women hope you never You call today, taste those names: too much poison, but I return tomorrow. too much medicine; they know those

We go around the week! names would be spit out the moment Or until you forget. they enter some mouths, would be looked at with disgust. This is the way I ‘ve done that a lot. 67 to get them down some throats; the only 68 I’m not an angel. I don’t call tomorrow. way for some bodies to absorb them into their cells. I’m here. You visit. Some women want to see their names Night is done. in others, to know that they grew You rush out with the morning light. I give you the prize. because of those names, that lives were I send you away with homemade biryani. dependent on them to live, that lives Don’t call until tomorrow (smiling!) nursed on them, the spoons in mouths like nipples. Today is tomorrow. You call today. I call tomorrow. Some women forget their names, their looks, their sounds; so busy trying I’ve done this dance before. to feed others, so busy being emptied, so busy trying to give Tomorrow is not today. Will call tomorrow. life by passing those names down, hoping those names will continue to live Tomorrow never comes. without them. RE VERSE FREE ZAHURA AKTER SHERESE FRANCIS Blocks My Sex Public Radio Announcement

All my poetry is crossed out. Somebody’s done changed my sex. NPR calmly explains, All my chakras are blocked. I should have been a boy, All my songs are unsung. but I’m stuck in this female body The government has fallen. All words snatched from my tongue. I’m wearing so well. Now a word from Brian Lehrer When I talk the thug comes out. ROWANA ABBENSETTS My hands are hard. Live from Trump Tower in New York, I can ﬁx everything in my apartment. Where all is well within police barricades I even change the tires on my car. There’s nothing girly about me Guarded by guys with guns except the way I dress. As peanut vendors and yoga moms run I’m so busy No need for makeup. You got to look deep for my beauty. For their lives and brown nannies abandon Gaze into my big, brown eyes Blond babies who will be better off alone. taking care of 2 people and you will see something that I don’t even have time to think, like a man 69 Don’t forget about yourself! 70 in deep thought. Now, for a jazz interlude That’s why I say, SANTIA TAYLOR Somebody’s done run off with my sex, From a hip new band, but I’m still looking for my lip gloss. And later catch, Wait Wait---Don’t Tell Me!

TAHARA LILLY More chaos explained in quiet voices. The first time I got a tattoo my arm was so sore The House is debating its existence I couldn’t sleep. And in a small Oklahoma town A woman has collected over 100 frog statues. JASMINE FAULKNER Democracy is a concept, after all, And discerning minds should know, Phillip Roth is dead. America’s complaint, next on NPR. I just want to say, LIFE is a privilege. ROWANA ABBENSETTS LIFE is a privilege, I just want to say. RE VERSE FREE LEVOY DUPREE

It’s not true. It’s

MOISES MARTINEZ So sunny out, a sky so blue. sunny out, a sky So life. They took his And all I could see was them trying to take me, too. Monday the worst news I heard that changed my fate. the sky I looked up in to say to God,

FREE VERSE 71 Blessings in Disguise We Got You

You don’t have anything to do. Probation: a blessing on the low. Pull up to me and the crew. Angels in disguise, We got you. our POs. Deep poetry, I spot you being a gangster FRANZE WILLIAMS is not you. We got you, like BET, Line of Life love and support is what we have for you. Don’t be ashamed of art Benedizione travestita Being a young colored man in the form of words. you have to understand, I We got you like the Angel Gabriel completely know the struggle. talking to the birds. Probation: una benedizione dal basso. I used to be the young boy No need to hold back your love. Angeli travestiti, worried about the hustle. Free Verse, we got you!! Le nostre guardie. But I had to humble

myself, dog with a muzzle. 73 KAIROS ITALY THEATRE – ITALIAN TRANSLATION BRUCE KIRKLAND 74 God helped me see clear. At ﬁrst I didn’t believe He would take the time To help the likes of me. But I’m thankful cuz He Freezing Cold showed me, if I ain’t change, He would punish me. Winter storm, And I ain’t trying the sleeping city You’ve been there before, to be a dead man. hibernates. it should be easier the second time around. MITCHEL CRUZ G.W.

FRANZE WILLIAMS Freddo Polare

La tempesta invernale, Sei stato già qui, la città addormentata dovrebbe essere più facile manda in letargo. la seconda volta.

RE VERSE FREE KAIROS ITALY THEATRE KAIROS ITALY THEATRE – ITALIAN TRANSLATION – ITALIAN TRANSLATION “They” My feet were so light

I took flight talk about WMDs and invading Iraq, but no one’s above the clouds really winning the wars / “they” talk about homeland and I could touch the stars and security protecting us all, but no one’s really locking below me, the red lights from taillights of cars the doors / “they” talk about drug trafficking / “they” streaked by on the highway, and I flew supply it as well / the government’s the real reason why to my house and looked down on this fiery hell is burning us all / “they” criticize us as the streets where my friends stood on corners and played ball individuals and put us in a place where society births in the park, and I felt so free until I forgot to ask how criminals / I’ll tell you exactly / “they” created the crack it was I was flying. A loud bang on the prison bars. Guilty as Charged 75 76 pheens/ “they” created the misery / “they” created the And a rough voice shouted, history / “they’re” the reason why Big and 2Pac’s murders ON THE COUNT!!! I am guilty It was all a dream. for the wrong are a mystery / if you don’t know money, then you I’ve done, my life has don’t know the history / so while “they” tell us, Stop the S.A.R. become my wife. violence / “they’re” creating the terrorists / the whole I’m not in a great mood. I thought world is sick / “they” got us fighting for enemies / my loyalty wouldn’t make me can’t get the cure for what ails me, unless I’m a lonely. But celebrity?!?! / or stacking dough like one/ but I fear no I made it happen, no one / I’m a samurai sword swinging shogun. accident of fate, no drug LEARNZ or drink. I did this. That’s why I feel guilty. RE VERSE FREE

DEVONTE RHODES Shoot!

Shoot me. March Twenty-Two: The Woman I Once Knew Shoot them. Did you get him? Did you get them? Yeah, I got all I could. The woman I once knew was not always sweet There’s so much going on I need to shoot. but she appeared to be whole and not incomplete. That’s the life of a photographer. The woman I once knew was not always nice, G’DAE Dream March but at times, she’d give great advice.

During the 60s I lived in Queens Village. The woman I once knew took pride in her living space, There was a White Castle on Hollis Ave., now it seems like she’s existing in an empty place. 77 where only white people worked. So the 78 local community protested against them. They marched in front of the place for about a month. Things changed! Most of The woman I once knew walked with a lot of pride, the time I only saw change on TV. now it feels like something inside her has died.

My brother took part in the March on Washington D.C., when Martin Luther The woman I once knew has been replaced by a King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. My brother had been misbehaving at meaner, angrier, older, version of you. home. He was in the doghouse. And my mother said that the March was going to be in the history books. She wanted one of I don’t like her; don’t know what to do. her children to be a part of it. So she gave The new woman makes me sad & blue. my brother a round trip ticket to Washing- ton, D.C. on a Greyhound. She made him a shoebox lunch (fried chicken, a sand- L. REID wich, fruit, cookies, and juice). My brother made the trip and he returned home with many stories. RE VERSE FREE JANET G. ROBINSON Two Mouths Speaking Obscenities

No love. No compliments. Just Spanish words dipped in spices. I can’t imagine their mouths tasting flavor. What should be two feet shuffling 79 in rhythm to a tune 80 becomes two elephants stomping, four arms waving, like wicked tree branches on fire, and I’m a helpless meat bag caught in the middle with a spoon filled with honey.

NAPOLEON FELIPE RE VERSE FREE The Life and Death of Raymond Stein

I was only in sixth grade when I decided Apollo to invite my childhood boyfriend to my house. Raymond was very mature for his age. He had a full beard. When Raymond My experience at the Apollo was amazing. arrived, my grandparents and I were sitting on the front porch. They looked in The lights and theme gave off a great vibe. amazement as he approached. I explained When we ﬁrst walked in my daughter was like, Mommy where are we? that Raymond was my friend from school I’m like, Baby girl, we at the Apollo. and that I had invited him over. My grandfather politely asked if I would go She like, Mommy, what’s the Apollo? with him inside the house. So I explain to her that the Apollo is where all the famous start from Before they get famous. Out of earshot, he asked, Who told you So she asks me, Mommy, who is famous we going to see? 81 that you could invite someone over? You’re Why must I carry the burden 82 only in the sixth grade. I will let you know (I start laughing) I’m like, They are famous, but they are poetry famous. when you can start dating. All the poems were great, but two touched me. Walking around heart hurting Then he asked, How old is this boy? Then I think about what I do They showed me that I don’t have to always hide behind And what I did My pain or my anger. I said, He’s in sixth grade, too. Things we did for fun And my days will get better, once I let myself blossom! Things I did for money That was the ﬁrst and last of Raymond Awake all night Me and my baby girl really enjoyed ourselves. Stein. That is possibly why, even today, Resting my head when it’s sunny My baby really had fun. She went home and went to sleep. I’m attracted to well-groomed men with Killing people slowly a beard. And you reap TIFFANY MARTIN What you’re sowing BRENDA DAVIS Wanted to be hard when I was young Looking back I seemed soft and dumb Too tough to run Ten slobs and one folk Stabbed six times face back throat Tried being hard Every day in the mirror I see the scar RE VERSE FREE DENZEL JONES Music is in my DNA. Where are you from? I was born to dance. There is no other description of my stance. Believe I am from a chair where I sit my DNA makes a musical trance. instead of stand. VERONA WAITE You can take it with you wherever you go.

My trombone is a work of art. ZINA DEVINE

It gives me a way 83 to share my love, my soul. 84 My trombone sound is my gift to those that need What I Know a beautiful tune.

MAQUESHA GILLETT take your L make it a lesson count your blessings Past Dreams & never take family or friends for granted You think, once in a while, people can be gone of dreams from the past and it’s like a friendly reminder in less than a second. of all the things you went through.

It’s good to know what you thought would kill you, DENZEL JONES didn’t. RE VERSE FREE

LYNN CHEUNG Change. Execute

85 the words 86

from your

moUth.

FRANZE WILLIAMS RE VERSE FREE